Didn't pay train fare!!!!

Joe_Horner

Zanzibar wrote: »

Stop it! giving it away like that.... - I did love the indignant comments though..

Sorry

Sometimes I think the population of this site must be American given their regular failure to spot [STRIKE]humour[/STRIKE] humor like that :cool:

TrickyWicky

Zanzibar wrote: »

Stop it! giving it away like that.... - I did love the indignant comments though..

Consdiring my post was tongue in cheek (especially my handy guide for buying a train ticket) I'm really surprised you took it so seriously to be honest.

A disabled person in this thread said they weren't offended by my remarks.

I even left my own tales of woe to make the op feel better.

Op then replies mumbling about my comments re disabled. I reply back in a "mumble at me I'll mumble at you" manner and its still all my fault?

I don't remember anyone complaining when the sun published a "how to walk" guide for John Prescott so many moons ago.

Nevermind, one thing I've learned about MSE since joining is that there are many others willing to pounce on you for anything and that includes jesting.

toffee'n'tom

flippin eck!!!! I am not offended by your comments Bit like you wanting to wind me up - I'm the same. All I wanted to know is will i get prosecuted for not paying my 90p fare given that i took all reasonable steps in all the circumstances.

and it appears the answer is no. So if anyone wants a free train ride - come to Wrexham!!!

Livingthedream

toffeentom wrote: »

All I wanted to know is will i get prosecuted for not paying my 90p fare given that i took all reasonable steps in all the circumstances.

No, you're safe.

toffeentom wrote: »

free train ride - come to Wrexham!!!

However, posting that on a public forum might mean a bit of a hit on trains around Wrexham over the next few days.

TrickyWicky

toffeentom wrote: »

All I wanted to know is will i get prosecuted for not paying my 90p fare given that i took all reasonable steps in all the circumstances.

IF you were a regular fare dodger in central london yes they'd probably start keeping an eye out for you.

A one off isn't going to even register on the radar so stop worrying!

Seriously, chill!

Stigy

toffeentom wrote: »

flippin eck!!!! I am not offended by your comments Bit like you wanting to wind me up - I'm the same. All I wanted to know is will i get prosecuted for not paying my 90p fare given that i took all reasonable steps in all the circumstances.

and it appears the answer is no. So if anyone wants a free train ride - come to Wrexham!!!

To prosecute you, a member of staff would have had to have stopped you, requested your name and address and in this case been of the belief that you intended not to pay for your rail journey. As livingthedream said, you're safe, don't worry!

vel1980

TrickyWicky wrote: »

It was common 10 years ago for them not to bother. As mentioned above I frequently used to be told by the guards not to bother and they'd then get you through the ticket inspectors at the terminating station.



They all have guards now but back in the BR days it was common for there to be no guard in the evening and the train driver would simply stick his head out of the window and look back - shouting at people to slam the door if they left it open. You'd always get the odd kid that would let it and make the poor bloke walk down the platform to slam it :rotfl:

Not all train companies have guards e.g. First Capital Connect. They only have driver only trains. Every so often you'll see a "Revenue Protection Officer" who'll jump on somewhere down the route then jump off after a couple of stops. But they're not allowed to take payment for tickets and only issue penalty fare notices.

tripled

There probably wasn't a ticket machine because it's not cost effective. The guard is not always going to be able to make it through the train and collect all (or sometimes any) fares, the train comapny will know this. But the lost revenue is probably less that the cost of improving ticket buying facilities. So you've fallen into a situation where it was more profitable for them not to collect a fare.

Provided you're satisfied you made a reasonable effort to pay, your concience should be clear, but if not, as others have suggested, you could send them a cheque for 90p (it would probably cost them more than 90p to process it plus it'll cost you a stamp so you'll both lose out) or just stick 90p in a charity box.

If it was Arriva, the taxpayer has paid for the majority of your journey anyway. That's not an excuse for fare evasion, but may help ease your concience where you have genuinely been unable to pay as they have had a fair few quid off the public purse anyway.


Edit: If you arrived into Wrexham station then you must have been pretty early in the morning for the ticket office not to be open!

Tomby1

I have seen and had this debate many times.

If you got on to a train at a station where you weren't able to purchase a ticket, got off at a station where you weren't able to purchase a ticket and the ticket inspector did come into your carriage, it is in no way your fault that you didn't buy the ticket.

The vast majority of train lines that have stations without ticketing facilities have guards that check tickets from a certain point into the journey up until nearer the end of the journey. If you get on or off before these points, your ticket cost will be so minimal that they probably aren't worried too much.

Obviously, it becomes your issue if you deliberately avoid the opportunity to pay a fare.

missile

toffeentom wrote: »

I'm surprised anyone posts on here asking for advice if they're met with such comments. I won't be doing it again.:(

Your loss.:T